Katie’s Dream Hypnobabies Hospital Birth
“I remember them checking me and telling me I was 9 cm, and at that point I was breathing calmly and humming through the waves and swaying my hips. The midwives and my doula kept telling me how amazing I was doing, and their words of encouragement meant EVERYTHING in that moment.”
Thanks to Hypnobabies, I had the birth of my dreams! It wasn’t easy, but it was soooooo worth it.
I woke up many times throughout the early morning hours of 11/26 (Thanksgiving morning) with strong menstrual-like cramps. I had a feeling the baby would be arriving, as that’s how my birthing time (Hypnobabies term for labor) began with my first child. When I got up around 6:30 am to use the restroom and get ready for the day, I had a pleasant surprise waiting for me when I wiped. I told my husband, “this baby is coming today! We are having a Thanksgiving baby!” I was so excited, especially because it was a surprise gender.
I took a shower and did my hair and makeup. I decided I wanted to feel clean and “pretty” going into this birth. While doing my hair and makeup, I listened to Birthing Time Begins (Hypnobabies reminder of all the tools for birth) and my Birthing Day Affirmations. That helped to get my mind on track and ready for the day ahead of me. I spent the next 5 hours at home, as my pressure waves (Hypnobabies term for contractions) were 8-10 minutes apart and not very intense for most of the time at home. I went for a walk with my toddler and husband, got in the pool and swam around a bit, and watched the Macy’s Day parade on TV. When my waves picked up in intensity and shortened to 6-7 minutes apart, I turned on Deepening Your Hypnosis (Hypnobabies track for deepening the level of hypnosis) and started using the finger drop technique with each pressure wave. My waves were still 6-7 minutes apart, but they started to feel more intense, so I told my husband we should head to the hospital (only 10 minutes away) so I could get settled in and get some time in the birthing tub.
Things picked up quickly when we arrived at the hospital, and I vomited in the triage area bathroom. They finally got me checked in and up to the birthing room, and I was 6 cm. At that point, I told my husband and the nurse that I wanted an epidural ordered, as things were getting intense, and the vomiting was making it difficult for me to focus. My doula arrived shortly thereafter, and things took a turn for the better—she turned on the hypnosis soundtrack music on the loudspeaker, turned on aromatherapy, and started using counter pressure on my back. She whispered to me, “I am Not here to talk you out of anything, but I know how badly you wanted an unmedicated birth with your first child, and you are so close with this one. Please give it one more hour to see how things go, and if you still want the epidural, we will make sure you get it right away.” I am soooo happy she said this and that I agreed to keep going.
I got into the shower, then got out after a while to change positions. Time didn’t exist at that point. I remember them checking me and telling me I was 9 cm, and at that point I was breathing calmly and humming through the waves and swaying my hips. The midwives and my doula kept telling me how amazing I was doing, and their words of encouragement meant EVERYTHING in that moment. I’m not a very religious person, but I kept telling myself that each pressure wave was a hug from God to me and my baby, and that really helped me.
The midwives let me push on my time and in the position I wanted. Just 4 hours after arriving at the hospital, baby BOY was born, and we are so in love!
Thank you, Hypnobabies, for allowing me to have the birth of my dreams! I so badly wanted this experience with my first child, but I had not been introduced to Hypnobabies with her birth, so I was not prepared the first time around. I doubt I will want to go for a third child lol, but If I do, I’m definitely using Hypnobabies again!
